MLB-DDA

Introduction

The MLB DDA is an alliance between Major League Baseball, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Batey Relief Alliance (BRA Dominicana), Esperanza International, the Dominican Institute of Integral Development (IDDI), Plan International, Save the Children (FUDECO), and World Vision. Inaugurated in November 2008, the alliance uses the influence of baseball to leverage resources from fans, players, teams, and sponsors to contribute to a country that has given so much to baseball. 

In the Dominican Republic baseball is more than a sport. In addition to being a productive pastime for youth and adults, it represents a way of life and the hope to overcome poverty. Everyday boys and girls, arrive to baseball diamonds and open spaces in their neighborhoods and villages to tone their baseball and softball skills and to entertain themselves - but many arrive day after day with the hopes to make it to the Majors. 

This desire is reinforced by the extreme poverty that many people experience. Some see baseball as the only path out of poverty. A selected few will see the playing time for a professional team and benefit from the fortune and fame that the job entails, but the others will eventually move on to other opportunities. MLB-DDA will harness this pivotal influence baseball plays in so many lives to promote community development projects focusing on education, health, youth development, economic development that will improve the lives of many Dominican habitants. 

The MLB-DDA marks a new page in development partnerships by uniting the resources and brand of MLB with the financial support of USAID to support community development managed by the 6 allied non-profit organizations to improve the lives of the most afflicted people.

Mission

To leverage the influence of baseball in the Dominican Republic and the financial and human resources of member organizations to carry out at a national level sustainable development projects that focus on education, health, youth development, and economic development in underserved communities.

Vision